Rare etching of Hans Worrenberg, celebrated 17th-century Swiss dwarf performer

This rare etching depicts Hans Worrenberg (1650–1695), a famous Swiss dwarf and performer who toured Europe and achieved celebrity status in his time. Standing just two feet seven inches tall (78.4 cm), Worrenberg became a sought-after curiosity, captivating audiences across the continent, including English royalty.

This etching appears to be produced in London in 1688, during his appearance in the city. It was probably used as a promotional print for his performances. Several artists captured his likeness, but this English example is among the rarest.

Known for his theatrical entrances, Worrenberg would emerge from a wooden box onstage—his signature prop, which also served as his transport between venues. Sadly, it was in this same box that he met his tragic end: while boarding a ship in Rotterdam in 1695, the plank broke, and he drowned, still enclosed inside.

His name appears in various forms in historical records: Hans Worremberg, Hans Worrenbergh, John Wormbergh, John Worrenburg, and John Woremberg. “Hans Worrenberg” is the most frequently cited variant.

Institutional holdings include the Wellcome Collection (1985i) and the British Library, where this portrait appears in a volume of Daniel Lysons’s Collectanea: or, A collection of advertisements and paragraphs from the newspapers, relating to various subjects, a bound volume of historical newspaper clippings and ephemera.

While the caption “to be seen now in London 1688” strongly implies contemporaneity with the event, and it is stylistically consistent with 17th-century portraits, the smooth paper it is printed on may suggest a later impression. If the support is indeed wove paper, the print was likely made in the later 18th century. However, the absence of clear wire or chain lines may also result from the use of imported oriental or exceptionally fine European papers.